You see, we have the remaining harpoon heads and olivella shells that your specimens are from and they are under repatriation claim by the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Tribe (Yokuts). Also, as an FYI, I have found the exact location of "Bethany Mound," which is not in the town of Bethany in San Joaquin County, California. It's on the opposite side of the Old River on Union Island, still in San Joaquin County. Both objects were excavated by Henry Clarkson Meredith, a Methodist Minister who worked with Central California tribes. This find was noted in Meredith's mentor's own collection catalog: "From mound on Birk's tract, Union Island, 1 1/2 miles east of Bethany, San Joaquin County. Mound near Old River.... On the preceding day, Rev. H.C. Meredith found 51 of the hook-shaped objects with other relics with a skeleton in the same mound as described in Prehistoric Implements, page 272" (Phoebe A. Hearst Museum, James A. Barr Manuscript) Meredith sold his collection to Pennsylvania Knitting Mill Owner, collector and amateur archaeologist, Henry Kohler Deisher. Deisher sold the collection to Heye. If Bennyhoff's (Phoebe A. Hearst Museum) 1950's site concordances are correct the site is also known as Bagley Mound, Birk, Burke, SJO-139 (old California site designation), and in the present day site designations as P-39-000257.
You see, we have the remaining harpoon heads and olivella shells that your specimens are from and they are under repatriation claim by the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Tribe (Yokuts). Also, as an FYI, I have found the exact location of "Bethany Mound," which is not in the town of Bethany in San Joaquin County, California. It's on the opposite side of the Old River on Union Island, still in San Joaquin County. Both objects were excavated by Henry Clarkson Meredith, a Methodist Minister who worked with Central California tribes. This find was noted in Meredith's mentor's own collection catalog: "From mound on Birk's tract, Union Island, 1 1/2 miles east of Bethany, San Joaquin County. Mound near Old River.... On the preceding day, Rev. H.C. Meredith found 51 of the hook-shaped objects with other relics with a skeleton in the same mound as described in Prehistoric Implements, page 272" (Phoebe A. Hearst Museum, James A. Barr Manuscript) Meredith sold his collection to Pennsylvania Knitting Mill Owner, collector and amateur archaeologist, Henry Kohler Deisher. Deisher sold the collection to Heye. If Bennyhoff's (Phoebe A. Hearst Museum) 1950's site concordances are correct the site is also known as Bagley Mound, Birk, Burke, SJO-139 (old California site designation), and in the present day site designations as P-39-000257.
Carrie Feldman. Museum of the American Indian 2012-02-27